Looking for thoughts on NAA mini revolvers

[mokin]

I like my Black Widow in .22WMR. Such a handgun wouldn't be, and wasn't my first choice but it's grown on me. I've become more proficient with it than I thought the gun was capable. It's well made and accurate, at least to 25 yards. Even with the terrible trigger pull. Although I don't need another such gun, the idea of one of the Sidewinders or a Ranger intrigues me.

 

[jstert]

I remember that story and image in the news. The guy with the NAA surrounded by a group of folks looked pathetically non-threatening to the crowd.

But the crowd did hesitate, and he did “get away”.

i don’t believe in brandishing a firearm, and most states forbid it. and if i did, would never brandish anything as small as a naa mini revolver anyway. if i am pointing a firearm at a target it is on the verge of destruction. if the target is mamallian i believe that my life is in imminent mortal danger and i have no way out. discretely palming a naa mini by my side to make ready isn’t brandishing.

i had to did so once in a las vegas parking lot when confronted by three aggressive, urban honor students. whether they saw the hand-covered naa mini pointed downwards next to my thigh or understood that “no thank you means no, period, this discussion is done” when i declined whatever they were offering, as one circled behind my car, i neither know nor care. they simply left with some unkind words relating to mothers and my complexion.

only for reference, las vegas casinos can ask a guest to leave the premises if an otherwise lawful ccw is discovered. only if a guest refuses does criminal trespass come into play. concealed means concealed. deeply concealed means naa.

 

[TTv2]

I wouldn’t mind a .22Mag Pug with the XS sight and better grips. Thats a big maybe though.

Nothing wrong with the Pug's grips. The Black Widow/Minimaster grips are probably the best in terms of feel, but they're so big. I don't mind that on my MiniMaster that gets carried on the waistband, but for any other method of carry (except maybe the neck holster) those grips aren't good.

The Magnum frame NAA's are a large enough grip and even with the smooth wood grips can be effectively drawn and aimed, but the better sights and the larger rubber grip of the Pug it's really a perfect combination.

I just wish I'd have figured that out sooner and chasing the fastest reload with the NAA is chasing a dragon.

 

[joneb]

One thing I will say about key holing or bullet tumble from these mini revolvers. I shoot mine regularly at 5 to 10 yards like any other handgun. I have had some tumble through the paper. But it was only with certain ammo. Like any other gun it's best to try several different types to see what works best for your gun. I have found the best performance for my 22 mag naa mini is fiocchi with the flat point. Haven't had any more key holing. View attachment 1229630there is also a few ammo manufacturers now that are making ammo specifically made for extra short barrels.

I don't know what barrel twist NAA uses for they're mini revolvers but its likely to slow. I think the Ruger LCR 22 magnums have a 1:9 twist. If NAA uses a 1:16 ish twist that could be a deal breaker for me.

 

[EMC45]

Nothing wrong with the Pug's grips. The Black Widow/Minimaster grips are probably the best in terms of feel, but they're so big. I don't mind that on my MiniMaster that gets carried on the waistband, but for any other method of carry (except maybe the neck holster) those grips aren't good.

The Magnum frame NAA's are a large enough grip and even with the smooth wood grips can be effectively drawn and aimed, but the better sights and the larger rubber grip of the Pug it's really a perfect combination.

I just wish I'd have figured that out sooner and chasing the fastest reload with the NAA is chasing a dragon.

That’s what I was meaning. The grips are better on the Pug then just the smooth little wood stock panels.

 

[trackskippy]

I don't know what barrel twist NAA uses for they're mini revolvers but its likely to slow. I think the Ruger LCR 22 magnums have a 1:9 twist. If NAA uses a 1:16 ish twist that could be a deal breaker for me.

I don't know what the twist is, but mine all seem to shoot straight and as they should if the bullet diameters are correct. Those undersized Remington rounds I shot we the only ones I've had tumble.

 

[JFrame]

I don't know what the twist is, but mine all seem to shoot straight and as they should if the bullet diameters are correct. Those undersized Remington rounds I shot we the only ones I've had tumble.

In my Black Widow, I've had the Winchester Dynapoint .22 WMR keyhole like crazy, but the CCI Maxi Mag (both solid and HP) fly straight and true, and punch clean holes. It seems to be more the load than the barrel (though I'm not dismissing the possibility that individual NAAs might keyhole with everything).

 

[sgt127]

I have two. .22 LR and a Short.

I carried one in a clamshell Kydex holster on a neck lanyard for the absolute last ditch option.

A dear friend of mine was going on a 4 day white water rafting trip. Wanted “a gun” that she could have on her 24/7.

I made this for her. I think it holds 8 extra rounds in the opposite side pocket.





It’s a 5 try stand off Ice pick. That’s it. Don’t pretend it’s more. But, I worked a double shooting where a guy got kidnapped. That’s all he had. Both bad guys were DRT.

Get the Single action style grips. Gives you “barely” enough to hold on to. Doesn’t ruin its conceal ability.

 

[trackskippy]

In my Black Widow, I've had the Winchester Dynapoint .22 WMR keyhole like crazy, but the CCI Maxi Mag (both solid and HP) fly straight and true, and punch clean holes. It seems to be more the load than the barrel (though I'm not dismissing the possibility that individual NAAs might keyhole with everything).

I just assumed it was the Remingtons as they were the only ones to do it of the different makes I shot, and they were the only ones with undersized bullets when I measured them.

I have three of them, and other than that lot of Remington, they all seem to shoot well with no drama.

The fact you and others have had keyhole issues with other makes of ammo may also point to the guns. Luck of the draw? Tolerance stacking? Who knows?

Cool, interesting little guns, but I agree with @sgt127 when he says, don't pretend they are more than what they are. If youre lucky, and they happen to get you out of a tight spot, great, but if thats all you had, what were you thinking?

 

[JFrame]

I just assumed it was the Remingtons as they were the only ones to do it of the different makes I shot, and they were the only ones with undersized bullets when I measured them.

I have three of them, and other than that lot of Remington, they all seem to shoot well with no drama.

The fact you and others have had keyhole issues with other makes of ammo may also point to the guns. Luck of the draw? Tolerance stacking? Who knows?

Cool, interesting little guns, but I agree with @sgt127 when he says, don't pretend they are more than what they are. If youre lucky, and they happen to get you out of a tight spot, great, but if thats all you had, what were you thinking?

I have a buddy to whom I showed my Black Widow one day. He's former Special Forces, multiple tours in various sandboxes, saw serious action that you only know about because OTHER people talk about what he did, etc. I figured he might get a chuckle out of that BW. Instead, he said he thought it would make a good "get off the X" gun.

 

[American_Fusilier]

I was just thinking about starting a thread about these.

I've shot one, but it was a while ago and at the time I wasn't really looking to own one. That has changed now, and I've been casually looking at them.

For the right price I'd totally buy one.

Thanks to everyone who has responded to this thread!

 

[TTv2]

In my Black Widow, I've had the Winchester Dynapoint .22 WMR keyhole like crazy, but the CCI Maxi Mag (both solid and HP) fly straight and true, and punch clean holes. It seems to be more the load than the barrel (though I'm not dismissing the possibility that individual NAAs might keyhole with everything).

I think barrel length has some affect and most opt for the shortest barrels available. When I got my first .22 Mag NAA with a shorter than 4 inch barrel, I had the choice of 1-1/8" or 1-5/8" and I went longer not because I thought an extra half inch would add velocity, but to give the bullet more time in the rifling. I don't think I've ever seen a full keyhole, but maybe some that started to.

The .22 Short is only available in the 1 inch barrel and I need to shoot paper with it to see, but one guy on here who swayed me into getting it over the LR stated he'd never seen one over a few hundred rounds while with the LR he'd get at least one per cylinder. It may be that the NAA's are made with a twist that's meant for a lighter bullet. IDK.

It's possible that the .22 LR is more prone to keyholing because in the .22 Mags the groove diameter is potentially larger than the bullet dia, but I've never slugged a .22 bore to check and I've never bothered to measure what the diameter is of any .22 LR I've shot.

When it comes to the rimfires tho, I'm more focused on reliability, not keyholing. More important the gun goes bang when you want/need it to than whether the bullet is tumbling on its way to the target.

 

[Great Scot]

I own three, and always have one in my pocket.

 

[Technical]

I carry one everyday on my dog walks. The likely uses would be against an angry pit bull or crazy and violent person. Easy one handed operation is important as the second hand will be full of pepper spray and/or leash. I have been experimenting with a shot shell in the first round position. I figure I will have a better chance to hit an attacking dog or shock a human attacker to put some distance quickly between us.

 

[Armybrat]

I have two. .22 LR and a Short.

I carried one in a clamshell Kydex holster on a neck lanyard for the absolute last ditch option.

A dear friend of mine was going on a 4 day white water rafting trip. Wanted “a gun” that she could have on her 24/7.

I made this for her. I think it holds 8 extra rounds in the opposite side pocket.

View attachment 1230194

View attachment 1230195

It’s a 5 try stand off Ice pick. That’s it. Don’t pretend it’s more. But, I worked a double shooting where a guy got kidnapped. That’s all he had. Both bad guys were DRT.

Get the Single action style grips. Gives you “barely” enough to hold on to. Doesn’t ruin its conceal ability.

Single action style grips?
Do you mean the boot grips?

 

[Ethan Verity]

I don't know what barrel twist NAA uses for they're mini revolvers but its likely to slow. I think the Ruger LCR 22 magnums have a 1:9 twist. If NAA uses a 1:16 ish twist that could be a deal breaker for me.

In looking at mine, and comparing it to a known 1:7" twist barrel that I have as reference, I would say it probably is around 1:16 twist.
I have no issues with tumbling rounds out of my 22 Short with 29gr 'hyper-velocity' bullets, but did have problems with my 22LR (part of why I sold it).

 

[sgt127]

Single action style grips?
Do you mean the boot grips?

Yes. Those. Actually make it almost useful. And, I have tiny hands.

The folding grip is kinda cool but for me, it felt really cheap. Gun wiggled around. A quality version of the, made out of aluminum or micarta, might be useful.

 

[MIKR410]

The grips that this fellow is making for them look to be an interesting option as well.

Gambler Grips

Grip orders placed between 9/21/2024 - 10/6/2024 will not ship out until after 10/11/2024. Thank you For your patience and understanding. ATTENTION: CUSTOM GRIP ORDERS HAVE A 2-3 WEEK LEAD TIME BEFORE SHIPPING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE A new level of comfort, style, and concealability for...

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[JFrame]

Yes. Those. Actually make it almost useful. And, I have tiny hands.

The folding grip is kinda cool but for me, it felt really cheap. Gun wiggled around. A quality version of the, made out of aluminum or micarta, might be useful.

I had a folding grip for my .22LR Mini. It did indeed have a bit of "tilt" in its locked-open position -- but my main problem with it was that it required two hands to operate. I've heard some people say they got facile at flicking the gun open one-handed. But the last thing I wanted was to add an extra fine motor step in a potential panic situation.

I went with a rubber bird's head grip for that Mini. The tackiness of the rubber gave my middle finger a bit of extra pinch to hold that tiny thing.

 

[GEM]

I use the rubber bird's head on a classic 1 5/8 inch mini. Nice pocket package for last ditch bug. The bigger versions are fun guns and the NAA 22S is so cute. But the one I first described seems most useful for me as tertiary BUG.

 

[trackskippy]

For those who have the break open versions, have you ever run into the gun unlocking when you shoot it quickly?

When they first came out, I saw a number of complaints in reviews about catching the lock with their thumb, while thumbing the hammer back, and unlocking the gun. Just looking at them and how they are set up, I could see that being an issue, just never handled one to know for sure. Ive never seen one in the wild.

 

[RevolvingGarbage]

I wanted to add an idea had to improve operation of a standard NAA mini with two hands, specifically a mini using the smallest and simplest grips.

Basically, the idea is you hold the grip entirely in your strong hand with your usual trigger finger providing grip instead. The weaker hand is then added to the grip, and it's the trigger finger of the weaker hand that manipulates the trigger, while the weaker hand thumb operates the hammer of the gun.

Does that make sense to anyone that's shot one of these? Anyone want to take their mini and give it a try?

 

[GEM]

The Rimfire Report: NAA Sentinel + Federal 22 WMR Punch Test

Hello and welcome back to another edition of The Rimfire Report!This ongoing series is about the rimfire firearm world and its different types of guns, ammo, shooting sports and history!A couple of weeks ago we discussed one of my favorite firearms - the American 180.

www.thefirearmblog.com

While I typically expect a fairly loud noise from 22WMR firearms, this particular combination takes it to a whole other level - hearing protection isn’t an option.

Yep, report has acceptable close in accuracy and the tremendous BOOOM! That's what I found. It mentioned what happens at an indoor range. When I shot a 22 WMR with a 1 5/8 barrel between the partitions indoor, I thought I blew up. Felt the blast wave come back under my glasses!

 

[DS-10-SPEED]

For those who have the break open versions, have you ever run into the gun unlocking when you shoot it quickly?

When they first came out, I saw a number of complaints in reviews about catching the lock with their thumb, while thumbing the hammer back, and unlocking the gun. Just looking at them and how they are set up, I could see that being an issue, just never handled one to know for sure. Ive never seen one in the wild.

I have a Ranger II break top and never had it open while shooting it. I saw those videos of the guy claiming the design was defective, he was reaching past the hammer when cocking it. The first thing that came to mind when I watched it was the guy never learned how to properly use the firearm.

 

[Tallball]

I wanted to add an idea had to improve operation of a standard NAA mini with two hands, specifically a mini using the smallest and simplest grips.

Basically, the idea is you hold the grip entirely in your strong hand with your usual trigger finger providing grip instead. The weaker hand is then added to the grip, and it's the trigger finger of the weaker hand that manipulates the trigger, while the weaker hand thumb operates the hammer of the gun.

Does that make sense to anyone that's shot one of these? Anyone want to take their mini and give it a try?

The owner of the LGS who sold it to me was a friendly acquaintance and showed me that method. It didn't help.

My hands are enormous and the revolver is tiny. There's really no "hack" for that. The only thing likely to help would be bigger grips.